Costa Rica’s lack of usual address systems may seem quaint as first, but can prove a daunting obstacle to a visitor unfamiliar with the adhoc directions. The local system is based on proximity to landmarks, such as the town church, school, or well-known business. Directions are then given with compass points, blocks or hundreds of meters, and with the defining features of the property.

A hotel could be found with directions such as “go two hundred meters east and half a block north of the Torro Restaurant in Tamarino with a wooden gate next to the mango tree.” Efforts to formalize this system are in place, but few locals know the correct number of the avenues and streets to use this newer process of navigation.

To add to this confusion, signs outside of the capital cities are often inadequate and if the visitor cannot ask for directions in Spanish, driving is not the pleasure that it should be. Faced with such directions, most car rental customers feel more confident finding their way with a GPS device to take them where they are going.

By inputting either the name or GPS coordinates of the location, the user receives clear spoken directions and the map to reach their destinations easily and by the most direct route. For a daily or weekly rate, the GPS system will ensure that getting lost is not an option, which is reassuring for anyone on vacation. Reserve your GPS when booking the rental vehicle to be sure of availability.